This week West Ham travel the short distance to the Holloway Rd to play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. They are stuck on nil points along with us and Fulham. Ahead of the game I spoke to The Times journalist, and lifelong Arsenal fan Sam Joiner to discuss the coming match and the season.
I suppose Arsenal fans are not as used as West Ham fans are to being stuck at the bottom end of the table with zero points after two games. Have there been any plus points for you so far this season?
Against Manchester City no, but they’re so much better than everyone else in the league it’s not a great barometer of how your team is shaping up. Finishing aside, I thought the team were very good going forward against Chelsea and I can’t remember an Arsenal team creating that many chances at Stamford Bridge. The team are clearly trying to get to the byline in the channels and there does appear to be a style of play. The move for Iwobi’s goal was lost amongst the mayhem, but it was 18 passes from front to back and a brilliant example of what Emery is hoping to produce.
The Arsenal Boo boys finally got their way with the sacking of Arsene Wenger last season. Where do you stand on this? Was it time for him to go? Could the club have handled his departure better?
Definitely time for him to go and I actually think the club handled it really well when the decision was made, and Wenger was ushered out in good grace given he was basically sacked. The question for the board is whether it should have happened sooner.
How do you think Unai Emery fits as the Arsenal manager? What will be the measure for Emery to have a successful 1st season at The Emirates?
Top four or winning the Europa League would be success, but the fans would be happy with a clearly defined style of play. I think Emery will get time and I’m pleased with him. Importantly he’s not afraid to drop players, as you could see by his decision to drop Ramsey on Sunday and sub Xhaka and Ozil. That would never have happened under Wenger.
What do you think of West Ham’s appointment of Manuel Pelligrini?
I think it’s a great appointment. It was a mistake not signing a holding midfielder after Kouyate left but he’s got tonnes of experience.
How do you think Arsenal did in the transfer window?
Really well in terms of organisation – they got their business done early and plugged the holes in the team. The issue is whether the quality is there. I’d rather have Koulibaly for £60m and not Mustafi for £35m and Sokratis for £16m, who’s looked out of his depth so far.
Are there any players that you wish you had also shipped out? And who are you glad to still see pulling on the Arsenal shirt?
I almost wish we’d let Ozil go in January, brought in Mahrez and really broken with the latter Wenger years. Ozil doesn’t appear suit the Emery system of pressing aggressively from the front and I can see it becoming an issue. I’m glad we kept Ramsey though. It’s a huge year for him.
Who’s going to win the League, and who’s going to be in the running?
City to win it, Liverpool to push them close. Tottenham to come third and Chelsea or United fourth. The settled teams also have the best first XIs
Where will Arsenal finish the season?
Fifth or sixth
Where do you think West Ham will finish?
Top eight
Which if any West Ham player would you take at Arsenal and why?
Felipe Anderson. We haven’t replaced Sanchez which means we don’t have any wide players who can beat people
Who can West Ham hope will gift us a chance of a goal?
Cech plus the entire back four
Predictions for how Arsenal will set up this weekend? Players/formation?
4-2-3-1. Cech will stay in goal but I’d expect Torreira to come in for Xhaka alongside Guendouzi, who has been great, and Lacazette to start upfront with Aubameyang playing off the left.
Are you finally going to get a victory this weekend? Prediction for score?
I think we will. West Ham have made more changes and we’re good at home. 3-1, with Lacazette and Aubameyang to score.
Well thanks to Sam for his time and his thoughts. For my part I think we will have to come back fighting after that display against Bournemouth, and I think we can just scrape a draw 2 -2! COYI